Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to Campaign for Civic Elections

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is set to campaign for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates contesting the upcoming civic body elections. Scheduled for Wednesday, Mann will visit Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Phagwara to bolster support for the party. Polling for five municipal corporations, 44 municipal councils, and various nagar panchayats is slated for December 21.

According to party sources, Mann’s campaign will be part of a whirlwind tour of these poll-bound cities. He will be accompanied by AAP Punjab president Aman Arora and working president Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi. Earlier, Arora spearheaded the party’s campaign in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Ludhiana, and Patiala, introducing key guarantees for voters.

AAP’s Screening Process Ensures Fair Representation

The party has emphasized its efforts to ensure inclusivity in candidate selection. AAP leadership claims to have introduced a screening mechanism involving around 350 office-bearers, aiming for fair representation across constituencies. Four cabinet ministers and Hoshiarpur MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal have been appointed as observers for the five municipal corporations to finalize candidate selection.

AAP reports receiving an average of 12 to 15 applications per ward, a response they believe demonstrates strong public trust. The party’s confidence stems from its governance record over the past two and a half years.

Opposition Alleges Electoral Irregularities

Meanwhile, opposition parties, including Congress, have raised allegations of unfair practices. Congress leaders claim that their nominees were barred from filing nomination papers in Patiala, alleging that their forms were snatched and torn. These accusations have added to the electoral tension, prompting questions about transparency in the process.

As Mann’s campaign gains momentum, AAP hopes to solidify its position in Punjab’s civic bodies, leveraging both its governance track record and extensive candidate screening process to appeal to voters.